Private conversations and group chats between members of the Swellendam Freedom Front Plus branch was leaked to various media outlets this week. The content of these messages originate from two whistle blowers within the FF Plus.
The ongoing saga at Swellendam Local Municipality has subsequently reached the point where one of two outcomes are likely to play out over the next week.
- Allegations of misconduct at the municipality are baseless, confirming that Swellendam FF Plus leader and Municipal Speaker, Juan van Schalkwyk’s main objective was to oust the DA.
- Top management at the municipality are guilty of corruption, justifying some of Van Schalkwyk’s decisions.
Swelliegate: From information received we can disclose following:
- Ruanda van Rooyen, vice chair of the newly established FF Plus Barrydale office is one of the whistle blowers and has distanced herself from Swellendam FF Plus leader and Municipal Speaker, Juan van Schalkwyk. Van Rooyen claims, amongst other things, that Van Schalkwyk had sold his voters out to the ANC.
- Findings of the investigation into misconduct at the municipality will be made known to Council on December 2. It is not yet certain when these findings will be released to the public.
- Neither of the Swelliegate whistleblowers reside in Swellendam. Van Rooyen is a Barrydale resident while the second whistleblower lives in Suurbraak.
- The communities of Swellendam, Barrydale, Buffeljags and Suurbraak remain frustrated that so many blatant lies are being told by their so-called leaders every day.
